As many have observed, Town Meeting is one of the purest forms of democracy. It is here, at this annual event—as well as at any additional Special Town Meetings that might be called in any given year—that each registered voter has his or her direct say in major public affairs. In Plympton, every voter can stand up and try to persuade others to see issues his or her way. When the time for a critical Town Meeting decision arrives, each voter directly represents him or herself. The power of this undiluted representation becomes apparent during particularly close decisions.

During the 2002 Annual Town Meeting, for example, one vote stood between proponents and opponents of a move to hire a new Town Coordinator. The measure to do so ended in a tie. Such close votes on are not uncommon.

Issues at Town Meeting can vary, but they include the passage of the annual budget, as well as other fiscal matters, which are decided by a simple majority vote. Although Finance Committee brings recommendations for the budget, which it has based on individual departmental requests and expected Town income, it is the voters who decide, line item by line item, whether to accept each figure or amend it in some way. Thus, voters—not elected officials—directly make key budgetary decisions.

Other concerns for Town Meeting include making changes to the Municipal Bylaws and the Zoning Bylaws of the Town.

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